E coli update

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Here are the media statements released to date by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in relation to the recent outbreak of E coli in Paisley. The outbreak is being investigated by the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Public Health Protection Unit. For any breaking news, please check their website.

• E coli media statement update - Wednesday 22 August 2007
• E coli media statement update - Wednesday 15 August 2007
• E coli media statement - Tuesday 14 August 2007

Wednesday 22 August - E coli O157 outbreak media statement update

There continues to be no new confirmed cases of E coli O157 related to the Paisley outbreak and the number of confirmed cases remains at nine.

The Outbreak Control Team met earlier today and, following further detailed investigations with confirmed cases, have established that all cases now have a link to the Morrison’s store at Falside Road in Paisley.

The OCT have today concluded that the Morrison’s store in Lonend, Paisley is no longer linked with this outbreak.

Investigations continue to try and identify the most likely cause of the outbreak linked with the Falside Road store.

A 72 year-old man is serious but stable at the Victoria Infirmary and a 70 year-old Paisley woman remains stable in hospital in the Republic of Ireland.

The other six individuals affected are recovering at home.

Dr Syed Ahmed, Chair of the Outbreak Control Team, said: “As part of initial investigations and interviews with those affected the Outbreak Control Team found evidence linking those involved to the purchase of cold cooked meat from the delicatessen counters of both the Lonend and Falside stores in Paisley.

“Further subsequent investigations have now ruled out the link with the Lonend store leaving us to concentrate on a possible single source for this outbreak.

“Work to identify the source of the outbreak continues to be a top priority. Public Health Officials and Environmental Health Officers have been working closely with Morrisons who have been making every effort to support our investigation.”

While there is still no conclusive evidence, we believe that cold cooked meats from Morrison’s Falside Road branch is still the most likely vehicle of infection and no other food, from Morrison’s or elsewhere, has been implicated so far.

Anyone who has consumed sliced cold meats from the Falside branch up until the point when Morrisons agreed to cease selling cold meats from the deli counter and who is experiencing symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhoea (often bloody), nausea and fever should contact a GP or NHS 24 (08454 242424).

The Outbreak Control team will meet again on Friday morning (24 August), after which a further update will be issued.

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Wednesday 15 August 2007 - NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde media statement update

There have been no new confirmed cases of E coli O157 related to this outbreak.
A 72 year-old man remains serious but stable at the Victoria Infirmary and a 71 year-old woman is unwell but improving at the RAH in Paisley.  A 70 year-old Paisley woman remains stable in hospital in the Republic of Ireland.  The other four individuals affected continue to recover well at home.

 As part of the normal public health procedures, a number of confirmed E coli O157 cases have been investigated in Scotland and England but so far none of these cases have been linked to this outbreak.

 It has now been established that some cooked cold meats from the deli counters were supplied to the staff canteens and customer cafes in both stores. The Lonend stores’ deli also supplied ham for the preparation of a limited number of pre-packed sandwiches sold in the store. Since Monday, when the Outbreak Control Team asked Morrisons to stop selling cooked cold meats, all these practices have been stopped. No confirmed outbreak cases so far have been linked to the consumption of sandwiches or meals from customer cafes or staff canteens.

 Dr Syed Ahmed, Chair of the Outbreak Control Team, is advising anyone who has consumed sliced cold meats through either of the deli’s, customer cafes or the purchase of ham sandwiches from the Lonend branch in the past couple of weeks and who is experiencing symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhoea (often bloody), nausea and fever should contact a GP or NHS 24 (08454 242424) in the first instance.

 The OCT will meet again on Friday (17 August) afternoon, following which an update will be issued.For further media information contact 0141 201 4429.

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Tuesday 14 August 2007 - NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde media statement

Following the media publicity about this outbreak colleagues in the Republic of Ireland have, this afternoon, reported a newly confirmed case of E coli O157 infection linked to the Paisley investigation. The woman, who has been hospitalised while on holiday in Ireland, is from Paisley and consumed cold meats purchased from the delicatessen counter of one of the Morrisons' stores involved around two weeks ago.

This is the only new confirmed case since yesterday.

Efforts to identify a source of the infection continue to be a key priority of the Outbreak Control Team. Environmental Health Officers from Renfrewshire Council have been carrying out investigations in both the Morrisons' Lonend and Falside Road branches. They have already taken extensive samples and swabs from both sites and these are now with the appropriate labs for a series of complex analytical tests. We anticipate having the results by the end of this week.

In addition the lines of the food chain supply are being thoroughly investigated.

Environmental Health Officers are also interviewing all Morrison's staff who may have had contact with the two delicatessen counters and this process is on-going. Where appropriate screening of staff is being arranged. Public Health Protection Unit experts have also re-interviewed confirmed cases to ensure that all possible common sources for the outbreak can be followed-up.

Morrison's have been cooperating fully with these investigations and have offered their full assistance.

While there is still no conclusive evidence, we believe that cold cooked meats from these two Morrison's stores are still the most likely vehicles of infection and no other food, from Morrison's or elsewhere, has been implicated so far.

The Outbreak Control Team will meet again tomorrow afternoon, following which there will be a further update.

One of the hospitalised patients is showing encouraging signs of improvement at the RAH and the other patient remains serious but stable in the Victoria Infirmary.

Anyone who has consumed sliced cold meats purchased from the delicatessen counters at either of these stores in the past couple of weeks and who is experiencing symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhoea (often bloody), nausea and fever should contact a GP or NHS 24 (08454 242424) in the first instance.

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